High Bush Cranberry Bark
Viburnum opulus L.
Also known as Cramp Bark, Cranberry Bush, Cranberry Tree, European Cranberry Bush, Pembina, Pimbina, Snowball Tree, Whitten Tree, Rose Elder, Guelder Rose, and Squaw Bush
$3.50 per Ounce
History: High Bush Cranberries are well known for their bright red, tart berries that are popular in food, especially during the fall and winter seasons. As a native plane of North America, Indians used the plant as both a food source and medicine. When European settlers arrived in America, Natives taught them to use the bush. The bark of the High Bush Cranberry is particularly valued for its medicinal attributes. Native Americans would use the bark as a remedy for pain, mumps, stomach cramps, and as a diuretic. is one of the most important herbs used for female reproductive health in Western herbal traditions. Native to North America, it is widely employed by medical herbalists, naturopathic physicians, and midwives. Although cramp bark is commonly used as a uterine antispasmodic, it is also used as a general antispasmodic, such as for bronchial spasms.
Modern Uses: nervous complaints, cramps, spasms, convulsions, fits and lockjaw, and also in palpitation, heart disease and rheumatism
Active Ingredients: bitter glucoside Viburnine, tannin, resin and valerianic acid
Actions: antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory, nervine, hypotensive, astringent, emmenagogue, sedative
Complementary Herbs: Wild Yam, Valerian, Blackhaw